Combination water dispenser with heating mechanism

ABSTRACT

A combination water dispenser with heating mechanism including a reservoir having an automatic inlet means for replenishing water into the reservoir and a controlled water outlet means for dispensing water from the reservoir. The reservoir includes a reservoir heating element which has an applied electric current for heating the water. An indicating means for indicating the activation and deactivation of the reservoir heating element is included on the dispenser. A user actuated means adapted to simultaneously activate the reservoir heating element and the indicating means is positioned on the dispenser. A temperature regulating means responsive to the temperature of the water monitors the temperature of the water during the heating of the water. The dispenser includes an automatic deactivation means adapted to deactivate the reservoir heating element upon receiving a signal from the temperature regulating means.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to automated water dispensers and more particularly to a water dispenser having a single reservoir for both room temperature water and hot water where the hot water is generated by a user activated heating mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various types water dispensers disclosed in the prior art, however many of these dispensers are complex in design and costly in manufacturing. Specifically many of these dispensers address the ability to have a reservoir of water that dispenses hot water on command. Many of these dispensers maintain the water at a constant pre-determined temperature by having a sensor set to the pre-determined temperature which engages a heating unit when the temperature drops below the pre-determined temperature.

Prior art combination water dispensers have been devised to address these issues. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,690 issued on May 28, 1991 to Knepler discloses a boiling water dispenser includes a hot water reservoir, a user-actuated faucet for drawing boiling water from a discharge zone at the top of the reservoir, and a solenoid-actuated valve for admitting unheated water to an inlet zone at the bottom of the reservoir. An electric resistance heating element within the reservoir is supplied with AC current through a series- connected bilateral switch device which is periodically switched on and off in response to the sensing of steam in a reservoir venting conduit to maintain the dispensing temperature at the boiling point.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,752 issued to Anson on Aug. 13, 1991 and discloses a sensor assembly for boiling water dispenser includes clamping members for mounting a sensor such as a thermister in position to sense the presence and absence of steam.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,089 issued to Rader et al. on Oct. 3, 1989 and relates to a hot water dispenser is provided for dispensing a selected volume of water at a predetermined water temperature. The dispenser has a body defining a predetermined sized cavity having an inlet for receiving cold water and an outlet for dispensing hot water. A heating mechanism is disposed within the body for heating the water contained within the cavity. A manually operable timer switch is operated to energize the heating mechanism and to select a time period for maintaining the heating mechanism energized. This selected time period determines the selected volume of heated water dispensed. A thermally responsive mechanism enables dispensing water from the outlet responsive to the predetermined water temperature of the heated water.

Knepler is the owner of U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,833 which issued on Dec. 18, 1990 and discloses a hot water dispenser includes a hot water reservoir, a user-actuated faucet for drawing hot water from an outlet zone near the top of the reservoir, and a solenoid-actuated valve for admitting unheated water to an inlet zone at the bottom of the reservoir. An inline flow regulator establishes an inlet flow rate less than the faucet flow rate to maximize the volume of hot water available at the faucet. An electric resistance heating element within the reservoir is supplied with AC current through a series-connected bilateral switch device which is periodically switched on and off in accordance with the temperature of water sensed by a sensor at the faucet to maintain a constant dispensing temperature. The switch device is thermally coupled to the bottom of the reservoir such that the reservoir acts as a heat sink to dissipate heat generated during switching. An indicator lamp conditioned by the sensor confirms to the user that the dispensing temperature is within a predetermined range.

Thus a water dispenser having a single reservoir for both room temperature water and hot water where the hot water is generated by a user activated heating mechanism is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved combination water dispenser with heating mechanism.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a combination water dispenser with heating mechanism including a reservoir having an automatic inlet means for replenishing water into the reservoir and a controlled water outlet means for dispensing water from the reservoir. The reservoir includes a reservoir heating element which has an applied electric current for heating the water. An indicating means for indicating the activation and deactivation of the reservoir heating element is included on the dispenser. A user actuated means adapted to simultaneously activate the reservoir heating element and the indicating means is positioned on the dispenser. A temperature regulating means responsive to the temperature of the water monitors the temperature of the water during the heating of the water. Finally the dispenser includes an automatic deactivation means adapted to deactivate the reservoir heating element upon receiving a signal from the temperature regulating means.

Conveniently, the dispenser is completely freestanding and can dispense either heated hot water or room temperature water. Both the hot and room temperature waters can be dispensed from the same tap, therefore not requiring two taps on the dispenser. Preferably the water automatically refills the reservoir via a gravity feed system so the reservoir always has water either at room temperature or hot water via the activation of the heating element.

The user actuated means of the reservoir heating element allows for the user to control the heating of the water when desired rather than having hot water on demand. The dispenser may also include a second reservoir that can dispense cold water via a cooling element.

Advantages of the present invention are: the user activation of the heating element allows for the user to control when the hot water is required rather than having hot water on demand, reduced energy costs as the water is not being constantly heated to maintain the temperature of the hot water, reducing manufacturing costs as the heating element and construction of the dispenser can be simplified, reduced maintenance costs as the heating elements are not being constantly used so that there is wear resulting in breakdown of the heating element, the dispenser may also include a cold water reservoir that can provide cold water as well, the construction of the dispenser only requires a single reservoir for both hot and room temperature water therefore allowing for a compact design and only requires one tap to dispense both types of water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of the preferred embodiments is provided herein below by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 in a perspective view, illustrates a combination water dispenser with heating mechanism in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 in a perspective view, illustrates the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 in a top plan view, illustrates the reservoir of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 in a side view, illustrates the reservoir of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 in a cross-sectional view along the lines 5-5 illustrates the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 in a bottom plan view, illustrates the reservoir of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

In the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid to understanding, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, there is illustrated in a perspective view, a combination water dispenser with heating mechanism in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The combination water dispenser with heating mechanism 10 includes a reservoir 12 having an automatic inlet means 14 for replenishing water into the reservoir 12 and a controlled water outlet means 16 for dispensing water from the reservoir 12. The reservoir 12 includes a reservoir heating element 18 which has an applied electric current 20 for heating the water.

The dispenser 10 further includes an indicating means 24 for indicating the activation and deactivation of the reservoir heating element 18. A user actuated means 22 is adapted to simultaneously activate the reservoir heating element 18 and the indicating means 24. The dispenser 10 further includes a temperature regulating means 26 that is responsive to the temperature of the water and monitors the temperature of the water during the heating of the water. Finally the dispenser 10 includes an automatic deactivation means 28 adapted to deactivate the reservoir heating element 18 upon receiving a signal from the temperature regulating means 26.

More specifically the reservoir 12 accommodates both room temperature water and hot water thereby having only a single reservoir for both types of water. The reservoir's 12 automatic inlet means 14 may be further defined as a gravity flow feed system 30 that utilizes gravity to replenish the water level in the reservoir 12. This system only requires a one-way check valve that stops the water from entering the reservoir 12 once the desired water level is achieved. Conventional water jugs may sit on top of the dispenser 12 to act as a supply of water. The controlled water outlet means 16 may be further defined as a dispensing tap 32 that can be used to both dispense both room temperature water and hot water.

The reservoir heating element 18 which has an applied electric current 20 for heating the water may be further defined as a conventional electric resistance heating element that is supplied with AC current when the reservoir heating element 18 is activated. The indicating means 22 for indicating the activation and deactivation of the reservoir heating element 18 may be further defined as indicator lights, or an audible indicator or a visible indicator mechanism that identifies when the reservoir heating element 18 has been activated. Specifically the indicator light will be on or light up when the water within the reservoir is heating.

The user actuated means 22 may be further defined as a mechanism that the user can engage such as a tab or button on the outside surface of the dispenser 10 that when engaged, simultaneously activates the reservoir heating element 18 to heat up the water at the user's request, and therefore also engages the indicating means 24 or turns on the indicator light. The user therefore controls when the hot water is required and therefore the activation of the reservoir heating element 18, resulting in a more effective use of heat energy as it is only used on a required basis.

The temperature regulating means 26 that is responsive to the temperature of the water and monitors the temperature of the water during the heating of the water may be further defined as a series of thermistors that monitor the temperature of the water. Specifically the thermistors are calibrated to monitor the temperature of the water when it is heated. The desired temperature of the hot water is therefore calibrated into the thermistors. As such the thermistors also interact and reflect the actuation and de-actuation of the indicating means 24. More specifically the thermistors also work in conjunction with the user actuated means 22 to regulate the activation of the indicating means 24. Upon the thermistors monitoring and sensing that the water has reached the predetermined hot temperature, a signal is sent to the automatic deactivation means 28 to deactivate the reservoir heating element 18 and actuate the indicating means 24. Upon the deactivation of the reservoir heating element 18, the unit remains off until manually reset.

The combination water dispenser with heating mechanism 10 may also include a second reservoir adapted to have a reservoir cooling element within the second reservoir operable from the applied electric current for cooling the water in the reservoir. In this embodiment the combination water dispenser may dispense hot or room temperature water out of a first dispensing tap and dispense cooled water from a second dispensing tap. The second reservoir may be filled from the automatic inlet means to a desired level.

Other variations and modifications of the invention are possible. All such modifications or variations are believed to be within the sphere and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto. 

1. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism comprising: (a) at least one reservoir having an automatic inlet means for replenishing water into the reservoir and a controlled water outlet means for dispensing water from the reservoir; (b) a reservoir heating element within the reservoir operable from an applied electric current for heating the water in the reservoir; (c) an indicating means for indicating the activation and deactivation of the reservoir heating element; (d) an user actuated means adapted to simultaneously activate the reservoir heating element and the indicating means; (e) a temperature regulating means responsive to the temperature of the water; and (f) an automatic deactivation means adapted to deactivate the reservoir heating element upon receiving a signal from the temperature regulating means.
 2. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the combination water dispenser has a single reservoir that dispenses both hot water and room temperature water.
 3. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the automatic inlet means is a gravity flow feed system.
 4. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein the gravity flow feed system further includes a one way check valve that engages in a closed position when the water in the reservoir is replenished.
 5. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the controlled water outlet means is a single dispensing tap.
 6. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reservoir heating element is a conventional electric resistance heating element having an applied AC current when the combination water dispenser is activated.
 7. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the indicating means is a visible indicator mechanism.
 8. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 7 wherein the visible indicator mechanism is an indicator light.
 9. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the indicating means is an audible indicator.
 10. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the user actuated means is a manually engaged member.
 11. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 10 wherein the manually engaged member is a biased button.
 12. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the temperature regulating means is a series of thermistors calibrated to monitor the desired temperature of the water.
 13. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the combination water dispenser includes a second reservoir.
 14. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 13 wherein the second reservoir has a reservoir cooling element within the reservoir operable from the applied electric current for cooling the water in the reservoir.
 15. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 14 wherein the controlled water outlet means includes a first dispensing tap for hot or room temperature water and a second dispensing tap for dispensing cooled water.
 16. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 15 wherein the automatic inlet means is a gravity flow feed system.
 17. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 16 wherein the indicating means is a visible indicator mechanism.
 18. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 17 wherein the user actuated means is a manually engaged member.
 19. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 18 wherein the manually engaged member is a biased button.
 20. A combination water dispenser with user activated heating mechanism as claimed in claim 19 wherein the temperature regulating means is a series of thermistors calibrated to monitor the desired temperature of the water. 